Electric smoke alarms should be changed every decade, and Desrosier said people should know if the power fails, that smoke alarm will not stop working.

Sehlmeyer also urges citizens to install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms. This includes smoke alarms that use 10-year batteries and/or are hard-wired. Having smoke alarms in a home cuts the risk of death from a fire in half. "Once a year, old batteries should be replaced with new batteries". Florida wants to stay in Daylight Saving Time year-round while MA wants to be in year-round "Atlantic Standard Time", which is observed in Puerto Rico and Nova Scotia.

"The simple act of changing the batteries in your alarms at least once a year is the most effective way to keep your family safe".

For the best protection, make sure all smoke alarms are interconnected.

The chance of surviving a household fire is doubled in homes with working smoke alarms.

Wednesday forecast: sunny and windy, high 50
Significant accumulations are possible with northern Aroostook receiving up to a foot of snow with locally higher amounts. In Clifton Heights, Delaware County, 8.1 inches of snow had fallen by 1:30 p.m., according to the weather service.

Use this as a reminder to push the test button on the alarm.

Families should also develop and practice a home fire escape plan. If that alarm chirps, replace only the battery.

Local responders say even if you check your detectors regularly, you should still put fresh batteries in every six months. Interconnect the alarms so that when one sounds, they all sound.

ALBANY (AP) - More than $8 million in federal funding is available for emergency response teams across NY state.